It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.  – Aristotle

We are drowning in this new Information Age.  We are bombarded with thoughts and opinions – many of which we don’t seek out.  Everyone is sharing his or her opinion on everything.  From Facebook to CNN, from pop-up ads to iPhone notifications, we get new information every hour of every day as long as we are awake.  We are over connected at nearly every level.

While the volume of thoughts have increased, Aristotle’s approach is still as true in life today as it was in Ancient Greece.  We must listen, filter, and reflect on thoughts without necessarily accepting it.  Now, more than ever, we must evaluate the source of information.  We must be critical of intent and purpose.  We must use our own education and experiences to make decisions on what we believe.  We are our own best filters; we build trust based on our experiences.  Don’t accept someone else’s thoughts without first thoughtfully considering if they are worthy of your acceptance.